A Jefferson City woman, Skyler Allison, claims she acted in self-defense when she shot an individual who allegedly threatened her and her children with a knife and a club. Surveillance footage reportedly shows conflicting details, leading to charges against Allison, including armed criminal action and assault.

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO (3-minute read) — A Jefferson City woman is facing multiple charges after a shooting that she claims was in self-defense. Skyler Allison, 24, has been charged with shooting a firearm at or from a motor vehicle, two counts of armed criminal action, and assault.

The incident took place in the 800 block of East Elm Street around 3:46 p.m. on Friday. Police were called after reports of gunfire, and the victim later arrived at University Hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg. According to the victim, Allison chased them while holding a firearm before opening fire.

However, surveillance footage tells a more complicated story. The video reportedly shows the victim approaching Allison’s vehicle and reaching inside while holding a knife. Allison is then seen chasing the victim around parked vehicles before firing as the individual backed away.

Allison told police that the victim had been harassing her for weeks and that tensions escalated when they approached her car wielding a butcher-style knife and a small wooden club. She claims the victim threatened to kill her and her children before reaching into her vehicle to attack her. According to her statement, she exited her car, and the victim then pursued her with the knife, leading to the shooting.

Police later searched the victim’s vehicle and confirmed the presence of both a knife and a club. However, investigators noted inconsistencies between the victim’s statement and what was captured on surveillance footage.

One likely reason Allison was charged is that she fired the shot while the individual was backing away. In self-defense cases, the law typically requires that the defender is in immediate danger when using deadly force. If the threat was no longer imminent—such as if the attacker was retreating—prosecutors may argue that the use of force was excessive. This highlights a key principle in self-defense law: the right to use force generally ends when the threat no longer exists.

Allison remains in the Cole County Jail without bond as the investigation continues.

Safety Tip: If you carry a firearm for self-defense, always be aware of your state’s laws regarding justified use of force. Surveillance footage, witness statements, and your actions leading up to an incident can all play a crucial role in determining whether a shooting is legally justified.